Food Standards Agency meets representatives of the meat industry
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Changes to the proposed new charging system for meat inspection – due to come into effect in April this year – have been welcomed by stakeholder representatives, including the meat industry, who met the Food Standards Agency last week to discuss the results of a consultation exercise.
The changes concern proposed additional charges for meat inspection, where inefficiencies on the part of the abattoir operator lead to increased costs for the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS); and an independent appeals mechanism for resolving disputes arising from the imposition of extra charges.
The Agency set out its proposals for implementing the recommendations of the Maclean Task Force on meat hygiene inspection charges in a consultative document issued on 15th January this year.
Under the proposals, all abattoirs and meat cutting plants will no longer be charged an hourly rate – instead they will pay the lower of the standard headage fees laid down in the EU Charges Directive, or the actual inspection costs if these are lower. The consultation period for these changes ended on 14th February. Subject to Ministerial and Parliamentary approval, it is hoped that they will be brought into effect throughout Great Britain on Monday 2nd April.
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By GlobalDataIt has been accepted that the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) – an Executive Agency of the Food Standards Agency – should be empowered to prevent or minimise any abuse by plant operators of a charging system based solely on headage/throughput charges. The proposals therefore contain a system of additional charges which may be levied if MHS staff on site experience delays in their work, and the delays are the fault of the plant operators. By this means, MHS staff can ensure maximum efficient use of their time.
As a result of yesterday’s discussions, future work patterns in abattoirs and cutting plants – and variations of them – will be agreed between the abattoir operators and the MHS staff serving them. Such agreements will set out what should be considered normal working hours and practices for each abattoir or meat cutting plant. Temporary or permanent amendment of each work pattern will be possible, given sufficient notice, to cope with variables such as fluctuations in trade; seasonal variations; staff holiday and sickness absence, and planned changes in working methods.
The second change agreed is the introduction of a system of independent appeals in cases where a plant operator considers that an additional charge is not justified. Under this system, the Food Standards Agency would – in consultation with the meat industry – maintain a list of independent people considered suitable to act in determining an appeal. Such disputes would be determined within one month, with both parties being able to submit written or oral evidence to support their case.
Geoffrey Podger, Chief Executive of the Food Standards Agency, said today: “These changes to our original proposals are very sensible ones. They underline the need for the Meat Hygiene Service and operators of abattoirs and cutting plants to work in partnership. They also demonstrate very clearly the value of consulting on proposed changes, and allowing all concerned to have their say.”
